Machine for operating on footwear



Mamh 1929. R. E. DUPLESfilS MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON FOOTWEAR Filed June 13, 1925 Patented Mar. '19, 1929'.

UNITED s'rA'res eat ear oFFicE;

RENE E. n'ornnssrs, BEVERLY, IVlASSAGl-IUEEETTS, ASElIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PA'llI-REON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR OPERATIITG ON EOQTVJEAR.

Application filed June 13,

In the preparation ofthe rear portion of a shoe bottom for the reception. of a heel such as a wood heel, that 1s, one having a scoop- -10 shaped heel-seat surrounded by a peripheral rim, preferably two operations are performed, the first being the heel-seat fitting operation which consists in the removal of material from the margin of the rear end of the sole, and the second beingthe heels-seat forming operation which consists in molding the remaining portion of the heel end of the sole and the other adjacent materials into a convex shape corresponding substantially to the concavity in the seat of the heel. v

Objects of the present invention are to provide a machine for performing this heel-seat forming operation with greater accuracy,'increased speed, economy and convenience, and

heeled shoes.

For the attainmentof these obj eets, the 1nvention is herein exemplified as embodied in a novel machine of the type having a die and a last support relatively moved to effect pressure of the die upon the heel-scat of a shoe uponthe-last. In order properly to position the die and heel-seat of a shoe relatively to each other for the forming operation, the invention provides for convenient relative movement of the die and heel-seat so that the die and heel-seat may lee-readily centralized with respect to each other, that is, so that the center of the heel-seat may be brought into position opposite the center of the face of the die. In another aspect, the invention'also makes provision for relative -movement of the die and heel-seat so that the plane of the tively adjusted to establish parallelism between them. As a further feature, to insure against accidental relative displacement of the shoe and support after they have been properly positioned with relation to'each other, there is provisionfor relative movement of the die and shoe support perpendicular to the heel-seat to bringthem in contact with sufficient pressure to prevent'accidental hence to facilitate the manufacture of wood heelseat and the plane of the die may be rela-r Serial No. 36,922.

displacement which pressure may be released ,if the relative positions of the die and shoe are found unsatisfactory and further adjustments made before reapplying the pressure.

Accordingly, the illustrated machine comprises a fixed'die having its face downwardly directed and nearly horizontal, and a shoe support movable longitudinally and transversely ofthedie in a plane substantially parallel to the face of the die to enable the heelseat to be centralized under the die. The

illustrated Work support is adjustable about axes extending transversely and longitudinally of the heel-seat to bring the heel-seat into parallelism to the face of the die. Manually operable means is provided for raising the work support to force the heel-seat against the diewith sufiicient preliminary pressure to prevent its displacement until the molding pressure is applied and for lowering the work support if the heel-seat is improperly positioned with respect to thedie.

It is desirable that the space about the shoe and die be opened and unencumbered with mechanism andthat the relative position of the die and shoe may be readily observable by the operator while standing in his usual position. in front of the machine. I,

Hence,'in the illustrated construction, the die is supported with its periphery in full view and the longitudinal axes of the Work support and die support are tilted back at an angle of approximately ten degrees to enable the operator more conveniently to inspect the shoe and determine the proper relative position of the shoe and die.

It is important that, after the shoe and die have been properly positioned relativelyv to "each other, the heel-seat be subjected to heavy pressure. liccordingly, the illustrated machine is organized to effect relative movement of the die and support by power to apply heavy molding pressure to form the heel-seat of the shoe in the desired manner. As herein to trip a half. revolution clutch to cause a til ' shoe support and the die are seal-ranged that 'thelongitudinal axis of the shoe while under pressure extends rearwardly of the machine and toward the operators left at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees, this position having been found most convenient for access of a right handed operator to the shoe with a hand hammer. Of course, the parts may be so constructed that the shoe will be positioned ninety degrees toward the right from the position described in case it is desired to accommodate a left hand operator.

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully from the following description when read in connection with 'the aceon'ipanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, the front of the machine being at the right,

and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view,'partly exploded, of the shoe support mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 2 inclicates the frame of the machine, secured to the upper part of which is a ,backwardly tilted framework comprising a head 4: rigidly supported by heavy rods 6. Secured to the head 4: is a die support 10. Fixed on the lower end of the die support is a die 12 having a stem 14 extending up into the die support and provided at one side with a slot in the bottom of which is a recess. Mounted in the die support is a spring pin 16 which enters the slot in the stem 14. to prevent turning of the die and, when the die engages the support, enters the recess to prevent the die from dropping out. By pulling outwardly on the pin 16 the die may be released, removed, and another die substituted for it. v

A 1 stpin 17 is mounted on a substantially semi-cylindrical rocking member 18 which is seated in a block 19 and is held in place by plates 20 secured to the block 19 and having inwardly projecting pins 21 which engage curved slots 23 in the ends of the'member 18. The spacing of'the plates 20 and the length of the pins 21 is such, relatively to the length of the member 18, that there is asmall amount of relative lengthwise movement betweenthe member 18 and the block 19. The block 19 s dovetalled to a member 24: for rectilinear sliding moveend in engagement with a groove 26 in the bottom surface of the block 19 to hold the blocl' frictionally in place and prevent unintentional movement thereof relatively to the member 2 1. A pin 2? projecting from the spring pin 25 holds it in place and may be used to depress the pin to permit remo val of the block 197 The lower portion of the member 2% is reduced in width to be embraced by the bifurcated upper end of a large screw 28. In the bottom of the slot forming the bifurcations is seated a block 29 having teeth on its upper face to be engaged by teeth formed on the lower end of the member 24. The member 24 has "curved surfaces which engage correspondingcurved surfaces on the upper ends of the bifurcations of the screw 28, and the toothed lower end of the member 2 1 is also similarly curved, the'center of these curvatures lying approximately in the surface of theheehseat of a shoe on the support. A screw 30 "passes freely through one of the bifurcations of the screw 28, through a slot 31 in the member 24-, and is threaded into the opposite bifurcation, so that tigl-itening of the screw acts to clamp the member 2% between the bifurcations. The slot 31 is wide enough so that when the screw 30 is loosened the member 24 may be lifted sufficiently to release the teeth in its lower surface from the teeth on the block 29, thus permitting the upper parts of the support and the shoe to be adjusted in the loncitudinal median plane of the shoe about a c enter lying substantially in the plane of the heel-seat so as to distribute pro Jerly the pressure of the die upon the front and rear portions of the heel-seat. The screw 28 is mounted to slide freely up and down in a post 32 and is prevented from turning in the post by a block 35 held to the post by a pin 3'? and enga ing a groove 39 formed therein. A large nutfi'i lis threaded on the screw 28 and rests on the top ofthe post 32. It will now be clear that the vertical position of the last pin may be quickly adjusted by turning the nut 81:; that the pressure of the die upon the front and rear portions of heel-seat maybe'varied'or equalized by tipping the last pin and shoe in the longitudinal median plane of the shoe after loosening the screw 00, that the position of the heel-seat of the shoe with respect to the die may be varied in a plane parallel end of a shaft 38 which is mounted for sliding movement in the fra1ne'2 with its longitudinal axis in alinement with the longitudinal axis of the die support 10, these aims being tilted rearwardly at approximately ten degrees to the vertical. The links 40, 42 of a toggle are connected together'at 44, the other end of the link 40 being pivoted at 46 to the being pivoted at 48 to a sleeve member 50 which is arranged to slide in a guideway formed in the frame of the machine and in alinement with the shaft 38. Inside of the sleeve member 50 is a long stiff spring 52 arranged to be compressed by downward movement of the sleeve member 50.- An adjustable rod'54 is connected at its upper end to the upper pivot 46 of the toggle and at its lower end is pivoted at 56 to a lever 58 fulcrumed at 60 on the frame. The rear end of power operated mechanism comprising an eccentric strap 80 which has at its forward end a slot 82 to receive thev pin 44' forming the joint of the toggle. The eccentric strap '80 embraces an eccentric 84 on a shaft 86. By

means of a suitable one-half revolutionclutch mechanism the eccentric may becon- 'nected to a continuously rotating gear 88 with which a pinion 90 on a shaft 92 meshes. On the shaft 92 is a gear 94 which is in mesh with a pinion 96 of an electric motor-98.

The clutch stop arm 78 is pivoted at 100 and is held in operative position by a spring 79. On the same'pivot 100 is a lever 102 one arm of which is operated by the lost motion connection at 76 with the rod 62. The other arm of the lever 102 engages a latch 104 pivoted on the stop arm 7 8 and held against. a. stop pin 101 by a spring 103; One end of the latch has a hook to engage the end of the lever 102 and the other end carries a roll 105 which is lifted by projections 106 arranged to rotate with the eccentric 84 and caused to release the latch 102. 1 When the treadle is depressed the lever member 102 is swung in a clockwise direction and, because of the engagement of the latch 104 therewith, moves the stop arm 7 8 in the same direction, causing an adjustable block 107 011 the stop arm to release a clutch projection 108 so that the machine will start. Early in the rotation of the eccentric, one of the cams 106 engages the roll 105 on the latch 104 and moves the latch to release the lever 102 which allows the stop arm 7 8 to drop back in posit-ion to engage the stop projection 110 after theeccentric 84 has comtrcadle depressed. A spring-pressed pawl 112 carried by the stop arm 7 8 is arranged "to engage a radial face on. one of the cam I projections 106 to prevent backward motion shaft 38 and the other end of the link 42 q of the eccentric when the machine comes to rest, the weight of the eccentric at that time being rearwardly off center and tendlng to turn backward.

The machine stops after one half revolution of the eccentric 84 on the shaft 86 with the toggle substantially straight and the spring 52 strongly compressed. vVhen started again by another depression of the treadle to bring the machine back to open or normal positlon, the spring 52 reacts strongly through the toggle and eccentric. and tends to turn the eccentric faster than the gear 88 is turned by the motor 98. This results in strain, wear, and possible breakage of-the clutch by which the eccentric and driven gear 88 are connected. To prevent the eccentric from. thus running ahead of its operating mechanism, the following means is provided: A brake band 120 has'one end fixedat 12 2 to an arm 124 pivoted at 100 and the other end .of the band is connected at 126 to a rod 128 rod'relatively to the pin 130 is limited. The

pin 128 is mounted between ears on one arm 136 of an'angle lever which is pivoted at 138 on the same arm 124 "to which the opposite end of the band is vfastened. The other arm 140 of the angle levercarries a roll 142 which the work under pressure, the cam 144 is in position immediately to lift the roll 142 and cause tension to be applied to the band 120 through the spring 134. Thus, movement of the eccentric'is retarded until the tension of the spring 52 has been relieved. When the rying the head 4 is tilted backwardly, at

an angle of approximately ten degrees to the verticahwith respect to the ope1-ato1"s'position in front of the machine, that is,.at the right of Fig. :1. it much easier for the operator to see whether the heel-seat of a shoe on the support is properly located with respect to the die'when This construction renders The upward movement or the shaft they are brought into close relation or pressed together by the manually etlected upward movement of the work support.

It will also be noted that the die'and work support are so arranged that the longitudinal axis of a shoe on the support will extend rcarwardly and toward the left from the operators position in front of the machine,

that is, the longitudinal axis ot the shoe is In the operation of the machine, the last of a shoe such as a turn or Mcriay shoe, to

which a wood heel is to be attached, is placed upon the last pin 17, the heel-seat of the shoe having been previously titted by the removal of the peripheral. portion of the heel end of the sole. The c )erator, graspingthe shoe, tips the support about theaxis 36 to locate the heel-seat of the shoe longitudinal ly under the die and moves. the block 19 of theshoe support laterally, if necessary, to locate the heel-seat laterally with respect to the die. If the space between the heelseat and the die is substantial, he will op-- crate the nut 34 to raise the work support and bring the heel-seat in close relation to or against the die l2. Parallelism between the die and the heel-seat is effected in the manner described by adjustment of the work support in the longitudinal median plane of the shoe about an axis lying approximately in the plane of the heel-seat, and by rocking ofthe member l8which carries the last pin with respect to the block 19. The heel-seat having been properly located with respect to the die, the operator depresses the treadle 66, thus pulling down on the rod 62 which acts, through the spring '24:, lever 58 and rod 54, to raise the shaft 38 carrying the work support, thus pressing the heel-seat of the shoe yieldingly against the die and preventing any accidental displacement of the shoe. 38 and consequent slight straightening of the toggle d0, 42 is permitted by the short slot 82in the forward end of the eccentric strap 80. The

nut 34 will preferably be so adjusted that the movement of the work support effected by the treadle will always be slight. In fact, if desired, the nut 3% may be used to apply sufiicient pressure of the heel-seat against the die to maintain the shoe in adjusted position, in which event. little, if any, straightening of the toggle will occur when the trea- 1 dle is depressed. Further depression 01": the

treadle, after the shoe is raised against the die, will cause the spring 74: to be compressed and the lost motion connection 76 to be taken up, the final movement of the treadle acting to throw outwardly thestop arm 7 8 of the clutch and cause power operation of the machine to commence. A half revolution will then he imparted to the eccentric which, through the eccentric strap 80, acts to straighten the toggle and apply powerful pressure to force the heel-seat against the die, this pressure being rendered yielding by the spring 52. V The strength and the amount of compression of the spring 52 determines the amount ofpressure which will be applied to the shoe by the straightening of the toggle. It will be noted that the spring 52 isrelatively long so that a slight difl'erence in the amount of compression of the spring l. In a heel-seat formin machine the combination of a ,fixed heel-seat die formed to shape the heel-seat of a shoe on a last for the reception oi: a wood heel, a last support adustable laterally and longitudinally of the heel-seat of a shoe on a last carriedby said support to centerthe heel-seat of the shoe in respect to the die, means under manual 0011- trol-i or eiiectinga preliminary movement of the last support toward the die to facilitate the centering of the heel-seat of the shoe, and power-operated means for relatively operating the die and support to impress the die on the heel-seat of the shoe.

2. In a heel-seat forming machine,the combination of a fixed heel-seat die formed to shape the heel-seat of a shoe on a last for the reception of awoodheel, a last support adpistable laterally-and longitudinally of the heel-seat ot' a shoe on a last carried by said support to center the heel-seat of the shoe in respect to the die, means under manual con trol for effecting a preliminary movement of the last'support toward the die to facilitate the centering ol' the heel-seat or the shoe, and power-operated means for continuing the manually controlled movement of the support to impress the die on the heel-seat of the shoe. p v i p 3. Y In a machine for t'orming the heel-seats of shoes for the reception of wood heels, the

rombinatroh of a heel-seat forming die, a shoe support movable toward the die, said dieand support belng constructed and arranged to have sufficient relativepositioning movement ice in any direction in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the heel-seat to enable the die and heel-seat to be positioned properly relatively to each othe yand power operated means for moving the support heightwise of the shoe relatively to the die to form the heel ly relatively to each other, means for relatively moving the die and the support heightwise of the shoe to bring the shoe and die into contact and to apply sufiicient pressure to hold the die and shoe in proper relative position, and means for further relatively operating the support and die, to force the die into the heel-seat materials 5. In a heel-seat forming machine, the combinationof a heel-seat-torming die, a shoe support arranged to have suflicient positioning movement in any direction with-respect to the die in a plane substantially parallel to the acting face of the die to enable the die and heel-seat to be positioned properlyrelatively to each other, means for effecting a preliminary relative movement of the die and support into operative relation and for holding the shoe against accidental displacement relatively to the die, and power means for eilecting further relative movement of the shoe support and die to effect molding of the heelseat by the die. d

6. In a machine for forming the heel-seats of shoestor the reception of wood heelsythe combination of a fixed heel-seat die havinga shape similar to the heel-seat of a wood heel, a shoe support arranged for horizontal movement in two directions at right angles to each other and for tipping movement laterally of the shoe, manual means for moving the shoe support to enable the operator to adjust the support in parallelism with respect to the die and to hold the shoe in operative relation against the die, and power operated means forefl'ectin turther relative movement of the shoe support and die to effect molding of the heel-seat by the die.

7 In a machine for forming the heel-seats of boots and shoes, the combination of a heelseat forming die having a shape similar to that of the heel-seat'ofa wood heel, a last support beneath the die and arranged for movement longitudinally of the die and for lateral sliding movement to permit a shoe and last on the support to be manipulated relatively to the die for locating the heel-seat widthwise of the shoe properly relatively to the die, a treadle for raising the support to press the shoe against the die after the shoe has been'properly located with respect there-I,

to, andmeans rendered operative by further ,movement of the treadle for applying heavy pressure to the heel-seat of the shoe.

- 8. In a machine for forming the heel-seats of-shoes for the reception of Wood heels, the combination of a liXed'heel-seat die having the shape of the heel'seat portion of a wood heel, a shoe support movable toward the die,

manual means for lifting the shoe support to hold the, shoe in operative relation to the die, and power operated means arranged to be brought into action by continued movement of said manual means for applying powerful pressure to the shoe support to cause the die to impart the shape of the die to the heel-seat of the shoe. 1

9. In a. heel-seat forming machine the combination of a heel-seat forming die, a shoe support arranged for positioning movement laterally with respect to the die, a heavy spring beneath the support, a toggle between the spring and the support, means for relatively moving the die and the support heighthwise of the shoe to bring the support and die into Contact and to apply suflicient pressure to hold the die and shoe in proper relative position, and power means for op-.

crating the, toggle to lift thesupport and'to force the die upon the heel-seatmaterialwith pressure determined by said spring 10. In a machine for forming the heelseats of shoes for the reception of wood heels, the combination of a fixed heel-seat die having a pressing face similar in shape to the heelseat ofa wood heel, a shoe support, a treadle for moving the shoe support toward the die so that thedie and heel-seat may be placed inproper relative position and so held, power operated means including a toggle and 'a heavy spring for eflfecting further movement of the shoe support toward the die to effect molding otthe heel-seat by the die, and means 7 controlled by said treadle for initiating the operation of the power operated means. I

11. In a machine'for forming the heel-seats of shoesfor the reception of wood heels,"the

combination of a fixed heel-seat die having a pressing face similar in shape tothe heelseat of a woodheel, a shoe support, a toggle for raising the'shoesupport, power operated means having a lost motion connection to said toggle, a treadle for movingthe shoe support as permitted by the lost motion connection so that the die and the heel-seat of a shoe on thesupport may be brought into proper relative position and so held, said power operated means being operative to cause further move-. ment of the shoe support toward the die to effect molding of the heel-seatby the die, and means controlled by said treadle for initiating. the; operation of the power operated means. I 1 Y 12. In a machine for forming theheel-seats of shoes for the reception of wood heels, the combination ofa heel-seat die having a pressing face similar in shape to the heel-seat of a Wood heel, a shoe support movable toward the die, said die and support being constructed and ar "anged for sullicient relative position ing movement in all directions in a plane sub stantially parallel to the plane of the heelseat to enable the die and'heel-seat to be properly centralized with respect to each other, means for effecting a preliminary relative movement or the die and support to bring the shoe and die into operative relation and to hold the shoe against accidental displace ment relatively to the die, and power operated means for moving the support relatively to the die to form the heel-seat.

13. In a machine for forming the heel-seats of boots and shoes, the combination of a heelsea-t forming die for shaping the heel-seat portion only of a shoe for the reception of a wood heel, a last support arranged for sw ing movement longitudinally of a shoe to 1 mit a shoe and last on the support to be lo-' cated longitudinally relatively to the die. a

7 last pin on said support movable laterally oi? said swlngmg "movement to permit lateral positioningo'r the shoe relatively to the die, a treadle for ralsm the suaaort to ress the i 1 (I shoe a ainst the'die arter the shoe has been n l properly located with respect thereto, and

means operated by further movement of the treadle 'lor applying heavy pressure to the heel-seat of the shoe. r

J 14. In a machine for lorn'ung the heel-seats of boots and shoes, the combination or a fixed heel-seat die for shaping the heel-seat portion only of a shoe for the reception of a wood heel, a shoe support movable toward the die, a toggle for movingthe shoe support, power operated means for actuating the toggle, there being provision for movement of the shoe support ahead of said power means, a. treadle for lifting the shoe support to hold the shoe in operative relation to the die, said power operated means being arranged to be brought into action by continued movement of said treadle for operating the toggle to apply powerfu'l pressure to the shoe support, and a yielding connection between the treadle and the shoe support. y .7

15. In a heel-seat forming machine, the combination of a heel-seat die for shaping I the heel-seat portion only or a shoe't'or the tioned,'andmeans for effecting further movelemma nent or the shoe support to effect molding of the heel-seat by'the die.

16. In a heel-seat forming machine, the

combination or a heel-seat forming die having its face tilted at a substantial angle to the horizontal, a last support movable 1n a direction perpendicular to the face or the die, and power means for relatively moving the die and support to formthe heel-seat.

17. In a heel-seat forming machme, the combination or a sliding shaft tilted rear- Wardly approximately ten degrees from the vertical, ashoe support on said shaft, heelseat die with its face perpendicular to the di-'" rection of movement of the sliding shaft and alined ating the shaft to force the heel seat' of a shoe on the support against the die. 7

18.111 a machine for forming the heelseats of boots and shoes, the combination of heel-seat vforming die, a last support, and means for applying heavy pressure to the heel-seat or the shoe, the die and last support being arranged so that the longitudinal axis of the shoe 'entends at an angle of substantially I plane or the machine to facilitate pounding the counter portion or the shoe while the heel-seat is under pressure.

19. In a machine for forming the heelseats of shoes for the reception of wood heels, the con'ibin'ation ofa heel-seat die, and a shoe support constructed and arranged so that the shoe will be held with its longitudinal axis extending away from the operator and toward his left to render the counter portion readily accessible for the pounding operation, with means for eltecting relative movement hctween the die and shoe support to form the heel-seat and hold it under pressure.

20. In aheel-seat forming machine, the combination of a heel-seat die, a shoe sup port, and means for relatively -moving the die and tl 3, support perpendicularly to the face or the die to force the die upontheheelseat material, the pressure being directed backwardly away from the operator substantially ten degrees from the vertical to at ford the operator a better view of the die and heel-seat. v I

21. In a machine for forming the heel-seats of boots and shoes, thecombination of a heelseat die, ashoe support, 'a toggle. for raising the shoe support, an eccentric connected to said toggle and having a projection, and a pawl arranged toengage the projection on the eccentric for preventing backward movement ofthe eccentric when the machine stops with the weight of the eccentric horizontally offset with'respect to its axis 22. In a machine for forn'iing the heelseats of boots and. shoes,'thecombination of a heel-seat die,-a shoe supporh means' for relatively moving the die and sup'portto apply pressure to. the shoe, a powerful spring therewith, and power means for oper-' ey-live degreeslto the fore-and-aft for determining the pressure so applied, a clutch for driving said means, power means for driving the clutch, and means acting when the machine is restarted with the spring under tension to prevent reaction of the spring from moving the clutch driven means p arranged for positioning movements in d1- faster than the power means.

23. 111 a machine for forming the heelseats of boots and shoes, the combination of a heel-seat forming die, a shoe support, a heavy spring, means for effecting relative movement of the die and shoe support and for tensioning said spring, a clutch for operating said means, and means for preventing the driven member of the clutch from racing ahead of the driving niember when the clutch is thrown in to release the pressure and the spring re-.

acts.

24. In a machine for forming the heelseats of boots and shoes, the combination of a heel-seat die, a shoe support movable toward the die, a spring, means for forcing the shoe support toward the dieby compression of the spring, a clutch for operating said means arranged to stop the machine with the work under pressure of the spring, a brake, and means acting when the machine is restarted for applying the brake to prevent the spring from reacting too suddenly. q

25. In a machine for forming the heelseats of boots and shoes, the combination of a heel-seat die, a shoe support movable toward the "die, avspring, power means for forcing the support toward the die by compression of the spring, mechanism for controlling said power means and for stopping the machine with the spring under tension, said mechanism comprising a driven member and a driving member, a drum on the driven member, a band embracing the drum, and means for tightening the band on the drum when the machine is restarted with the spring under tension. V Y

26. In a machine foriforming the heelseats of boots and shoes, the combination of a heel-seat die, a shoe support movable toward the die, a spring, power means for forcing the support toward the die by compression of the spring, aclutch for controlling said power rneans comprising a driven member and a driving member, a drum on the drivenmember, a band embracing the drum, a pivoted arm to which the ends of the band are attached, the arm also bearing on the'drum, and a cam acting to pull on one end of the band to tension it during that part of the cycle when the spring isreacting.

27. In a heel-seat forming machine, the combination of a heel-seat forming die, a shoe support constructed and arranged to present a shoe bottom up tothe die and for movement heightwise of the shoe toward the die, said shoe support being constructed and reetions which are substantially normal to th direction of movement of the shoe support toward the die, means for moving the shoe support toward the die to bring the shoe 7 and die into contact and to apply suliicient pressure to hold the shoe and die in proper position relatively to each other, and means for further moving the shoe support toward the die to impart the shape of the die to the heel-seat material.

28. ln'a heel-seat forming machine, the comb nation of a heel-seat forming die, a

shoe support constructed and arranged to present a shoe bottom up to the dieand to move heightwise of the shoe toward the die, said shoe support being constructed and arranged for positioning movements in directions which are substantially normal to the direction of movement of the shoe support toward the vdie and also constructed and ar-- ranged for tipping movement laterally of the shoe, means for moving the shoe support toward the die for bringing the shoe and die into contact to permit the operator by inspection of the shoe and die to determine the proper position of the shoe with respect to the die and for applying suficient pressure,

to hold the shoe and die in proper position relatively to one another, and means for toimpart the shape of the die to the heel-seat material. I 7

2:); in a machine for forming the heelseats of boots and shoes, the combination of a heel-seat die,.a shoe support, means including driving and driven members for moving the support to press a shoe, a powerful spring RENE nurnnss s.

' further moving the support toward the die 

